Think About These Things

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Whatever is true,whatever is honorable,whatever is just,whatever is pure,whatever is lovely,whatever is commendable,if there is any excellence,if there is anything worthy of praise,think about these things.Phillippians 4:8ii iiiForewordby john piperHere you will find (as always with Ric Ergenbright) the art of righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments God wrapped in the Word of God. But one may ask: Can mere are like the great deep.” C. S. Lewis wrote, “I do not see how pictures waken the wonder of being there? Can a photo catch the the ‘fear’ of God could have ever meant to me anything but the splendor of a star? I answer, “If the glory of God can be seen in a lowest prudential efforts to be safe, if I had never seen certain mere galaxy, it is no great leap from a photograph to a star.” ominous ravines and unapproachable crags.”“The Lord has set his glory above the heavens.” He is not Second, it will humble us. “Where were you when I laid the part of the created universe. He is above it—infinitely above it. foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. “What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or Who determined its measurements—surely you know!”what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these Third, it will help free us from the illusions of power and things?” To God, galaxies are mere finger work. permanence. “The sun rises with its scorching heat and withers Nevertheless, echoes of his ...

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• Publié par: Erdie
• Nombre de lectures: 49
• Langue: English

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Whateveristrue,

whateverishonorable,

whateverisjust,

whateverispure,

whateverislovely,

whateveriscommendable,

ifthereisanyexcellence,

ifthereisanythingworthyofpraise,

thinkaboutthesethings.

Phillippians4:8

Foreword byjohnpiper

Here you will find (as always with Ric Ergenbright) the art of God wrapped in the Word of God. But one may ask: Can mere pictures waken the wonder of being there? Can a photo catch the splendor of a star? I answer, “If the glory of God can be seen in a mere galaxy, it is no great leap from a photograph to a star.” “The Lord has set his glory above the heavens.” He is not part of the created universe. He is above it—infinitely above it. “What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?” To God, galaxiesare mere finger work. Nevertheless, echoes of his excellenciesare everywhere. “The whole earth is full of his glory.” “The heavens declare the glory of God.” “His attributes are clearly seen in the things that have been made.” He himself tells us these things. The fountain of God’s glory is above the galaxies, and infinitely greater than the created universe. The universe, in all of its splendor, is but a tiny overflow of the beauty and power and wisdom that fully resides in God alone. “Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him!” Yet it is wonderful. And we should listen to the thundering whisper. We should gaze at this glory, even through the foggy lens of magnificent photography. God commands us to look. “Consider the lilies of the field.” “Look at the birds of the air.” “Stop and consider the wondrous works of God.” And so we respond with the psalmist: “On your wondrous works, I will meditate.” “I lift up my eyes to the hills.” What blessings will flow from our obedience to these loving commands from God? First, it will teach us something of what God is like. “Your

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righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep.” C. S. Lewis wrote, “I do not see how the ‘fear’ of God could have ever meant to me anything but the lowest prudential efforts to be safe, if I had never seen certain ominous ravines and unapproachable crags.” Second, it will humble us. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!” Third, it will help free us from the illusions of power and permanence. “The sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” Fourth, it will bring health and delight to our hearts. The healthiest moments are when some wonder makes us forget ourselves with joy. Perhaps some star fish we never knew existed in that size and color (page 62). Or perhaps a bending tree that looks like a snow-capped dinosaur standing agape at Crater Lake (page 78). Fifth, it will awaken worship. “The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, Glory!” “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Sixth, it may—we pray that it will—lead you to the Creator, Jesus Christ, the Rock that is higher than all, the River that flows with living water, the Lily that shines more beautiful than every flower, and the Shepherd who carries the lamb safely home (page 74). There is much more good that God designs for you in considering his creation. But this you should discover for yourself. Come and see.

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Artist’sIntroduction

RicErgenbright

Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfromabove,   comingdownfromtheFatheroflightswithwhom thereisnovariationorshadowduetochange. james1:17

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). How life-changing, how culture-shaping, how world-renewing, and how God-exalting is this command from Holy Scripture! For it is not speaking of fleeting worldly pleasures that amuse, and often abuse, our hearts and minds; it is pointing us to the absolute, unchanging perfections of God. The world and the Word of God are His good and perfect gifts to mankind that fully reveal His glory and His love. Holistic in nature, they are the singular source of all the virtues listed above, which the followers of Christ are to think about and to treasure (Psalm 119:14). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21), and “the good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:35). These truths, proclaimed by Jesus, are validated on every page of history and by the headlines of any daily newspaper. Indeed, “as a man thinks, so he will be,” and the witness of human events speaks volumes about the unhealthy diet of our minds and the dark

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affections of our hearts that have starved and withered our souls. Surrounded by the splendor of God’s glorious and all-satisfying table, we have turned our eyes from the brilliance of His riches and grope in the darkness for worthless food. Yet, all who think about the good and perfect gifts of God are refreshed and restored, being transformed by His grace to prefer them above all things and to joyfully thank Him for them. “They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light” (Psalm 36:8-9). The gifts, the desire, and our joyful thanksgiving in receiving them are all from God, for His glory and our good. Think About These Thingsfocuses on the good and perfect gifts of God’s world and His Word, which embody all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, in the hope that all who view this book may see the glory and love of God and joyously praise Him for all He has done. It is my heartfelt prayer that you will be greatly blessed and that God will be greatly glorified as you look upon and “think about these things.”

Sunrise over Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades

beforethemountainswerebroughtforth,or everyouhadformedtheearthandtheworld,   fromeverlastingtoeverlastingyouaregod. psalm90:2

“There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out

in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ Only

in the L ORD , it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were

incensed against him. In the L ORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”

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